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Another year has come and gone. As my mother used to say, “The older you get, the faster time goes.” I celebrated my 55th birthday on Jan. 1 -- which would have marked my first eligibility for retirement under CSRS with 33 years of service, since I was hired on Nov. 2, 1980. But I left federal service in 1988, after only seven and a half years in government. I didn’t have “golden handcuffs” under the Civil Service Retirement System yet, so I left to make a career out of training other federal employees on their retirement benefits.
I have thought about finishing my federal career at some point, but I’m having so much fun doing training with the National Institute of Transition Planning, writing this column and co-hosting the For Your Benefit radio program on Federal News Radio that I am not sure returning to federal service would be my best move -- especially since my husband is ready to retire soon and it would be nice to ease into retirement with him.
For those of you who also are thinking about retirement, here’s my annual index to previous Retirement Planning columns. This year, I’ve added two new headings: “New Employees and Midcareer Employees” and “Congressional Proposals and Action.” The first is an effort to highlight the need for employees to plan for retirement throughout their careers. The second is in response to the many emails and questions I receive from employees who are almost to the point of panic over news of proposed changes to federal employee benefits.
New Employees and Midcareer Level Employees
Get Started Sept. 7, 2012
Eight Tips for Setting Your Retirement Goals Sept. 14, 2012
Buyout Considerations July 12, 2012
Happy Financial Literacy Month April 13, 2012
Targeting Early Retirement Oct. 21, 2011
Go or No Go Sept. 16, 2011
Early Outs July 29, 2011
Midterm Quiz June 17, 2011
The List June 4, 2010
The Top Five April 16, 2010
Financial Literacy for Feds April 9, 2010
Where to Start Oct. 23, 2009
Communication Mistakes Aug. 28, 2009
From Day One July 24, 2009
The Early Way Out May 26, 2006
Midcareer Considerations May 1, 2009
Leaving Early May 19, 2006
Really, You Can Retire! March 17, 2006
You Can Afford To Retire! March 3, 2006
Best Dates to Retire
Best Dates to Retire 2013 May 11, 2012
Best Date to Retire Tips March 9, 2012
Rethinking the Best Date to Retire Feb. 4, 2011
A Date for New Year's Dec. 17, 2010
Deciding to Retire
Waiting Game May 27, 2011
Ready…or Not? May 20, 2011
The Next Adventure Aug. 20, 2010
Taking the Plunge Aug. 7, 2009
When to Go: FERS Edition April 24, 2009
Putting It Off April 17, 2009
Federal vs. Private May 9, 2008
A Little Lower Oct. 12, 2007
Going Private Oct. 5, 2007
Public or Private? Sept. 14, 2007
Retiring Women June 15, 2007
Should I Stay, or Should I Go? Feb. 23, 2007
Congressional Proposals and Action
A Look Back Dec. 21, 2012
What’s New: Pension Hikes, Tepid TSP and More Nov. 9, 2012
Pay Raises and COLAs Aug. 3, 2012
Changes for the Better July 27, 2012
TSP, Pensions and More May 4, 2012
Cutting Benefits: Readers Bite Back April 1, 2011
Are Cuts Coming? March 25, 2011
Uncertain Times Sept. 22, 2011
Uncertain Times May 28, 2010
What Congress Gets July 8, 2011
From Law to Policy July 31, 2009
Things to Do to Get Ready
Back to Basics Sept. 28, 2012
Free Estimates Aug. 31, 2012
Five Retirement Tips April 27, 2012
The Sites You Need March 23, 2012
Not Quite Right Sept. 9, 2011
Predicting the Future Sept. 2, 2011
Overwhelmed Aug. 26, 2011
Retirement Checkup April 29, 2011
Be Prepared Jan. 21, 2011
Getting Help Sept. 24, 2010
Get an Estimate July 17, 2009
It Pays to Know Jan. 23, 2009
What You Need to Know Oct. 10, 2008
Who's Responsible? Sept. 12, 2008
Time of Transition June 27, 2008
To-Do List June 13, 2008
Countdown to Retirement March 14, 2008
Help! Feb. 8, 2008
Educate Yourself Feb. 1, 2008
Last-Minute Tips Dec. 14, 2007
The Retirement Process June 22, 2007
Retirement Checklist June 8, 2007
Getting Ready Jan. 5, 2007
Are You Ready? July 14, 2006
Smoothing the Transition June 23, 2006
Sick Leave/Annual Leave
Need Money? Save Your Sick Leave July 6, 2012
Sick Leave Credit: The Calculations April 2, 2010
Sick Leave Credit: The Details March 26, 2010
Sick Leave Credit for All March 19, 2010
Leave: Take It or Lump It March 27, 2009
Taking Your Lumps Jan. 19, 2007
Service Credit Issues: Civilian
Redeposits for the Rehired Feb. 25, 2011
Civilian Payback Feb. 18, 2011
Where Credit is Due Jan. 28, 2011
Refunds and Redeposits Jan. 14, 2011
At Your Service Aug. 13, 2010
Question Time Feb. 12, 2010
Deposit Woes Jan. 29, 2010
Deposit Dilemma Jan. 22, 2010
Deposit Download Jan. 15, 2010
Maxing Out July 18, 2008
Deposits and Credits June 20, 2008
Keep Your Records Feb. 28, 2008
Catch-62 Sept. 21, 2007
A Whole Different Kind of Service June 1, 2007
Crediting Volunteer Service May 25, 2007
Computing Your Service May 18, 2007
Service Credit Issues: Military
11.11.11 Edition Nov. 11, 2011
Credit for Military Service Feb. 11, 2011
From Military to Civilian July 30, 2010
Question Time Feb. 12, 2010
Deposit Woes Jan. 29, 2010
Deposit Dilemma Jan. 22, 2010
Deposit Download Jan. 15, 2010
Military Payback: More Questions June 12, 2009
Payback Time May 29, 2009
Catch-62 Revisited Sept. 5, 2008
Deposits and Credits June 20, 2008
Catch-62 Sept. 21, 2007
Computing Your Service May 18, 2007
Service Interruption March 16, 2007
Mixing Civilian and Military Retirement June 30, 2006
Military Service Payback Feb. 24, 2006
Survivor Benefits
Goin’ to the Chapel June 1, 2012
Safety Net July 22, 2011
Summer Assignment July 15, 2011
For Richer or Poorer, Final Words March 18, 2011
For Richer or Poorer, Part Two March 11, 2011
For Richer, For Poorer March 4, 2011
Thinking the Unthinkable June 11, 2010
The Inevitable Aug. 14, 2009
When You Go June 5, 2009
Spousal Provision March 13, 2009
Survivor Benefits Q&A April 25, 2008
Supporting Your Survivors April 18, 2008
Survivor: Federal Edition Jan. 12, 2007
Federal Couples July 7, 2006
Who's Your Beneficiary? May 12, 2006
Spousal Benefits March 10, 2006
Law Enforcement and Special Groups
Targeting Early Retirement Oct. 21, 2011
Officers' Options July 1, 2011
Special Considerations May 8, 2009
Feeling Special: Q&A Aug. 17, 2007
Feeling Special Aug. 10, 2007
Eligibility and Computation of CSRS and FERS
How Much Do You Deserve? May 25, 2012
New Calculations Nov. 6, 2009
Eligibility: Facts and Myths July 6, 2007
Deferred vs. Postponed June 29, 2007
Retirement Estimate: The Details May 11, 2007
Basic Retirement Computations May 4, 2007
Estimating Your Benefits April 27, 2007
Supplementary Information Feb. 2, 2007
Supplementing FERS Jan. 26, 2007
Other CSRS and FERS Issues
Women’s Issues Oct. 12, 2012
Summertime Q & A Aug. 17, 2012
Rates and Returns May 18, 2012
Divorce Decrees April 6, 2012
A Few Good Things Dec. 23, 2011
Pocket Change April 8, 2011
Pop Quiz Sept. 10, 2010
Before Your Time July 23, 2010
Spring Cleaning May 21, 2010
Financially Independent Women May 14, 2010
Question Time May 7, 2010
The 2009 Quiz Dec. 18, 2009
Pop Quiz Sept. 11, 2009
Endless Summer, Endless Questions June 26, 2009
No Fooling April 3, 2009
What You Don't Know Feb. 27, 2009
Questions and Answers Feb. 20, 2009
Myth Busting May 30, 2008
D-I-V-O-R-C-E Aug. 24, 2007
Short-Term Benefits Feb. 16, 2007
Single Concerns July 21, 2006
CSRS vs FERS
CSRS vs FERS, Again Dec. 14, 2012
From CSRS to FERS March 15, 2012
Freefalling FERS March 6, 2009
FERS Flexibilities Sept. 26, 2008
CSRS vs. FERS: 2008 Edition Sept. 19, 2008
Retirement Processing
Are You Ready to Apply? Nov. 1, 2012
Benefits Roundup June 8, 2012
Reductions and Withholdings Jan. 13, 2012
Great Expectations Dec. 16, 2011
Diminishing Returns Aug. 19, 2011
Smooth Sailing Aug. 12, 2011
Trick or Treat Oct. 29, 2010
The Check Isn't in the Mail Jan. 30, 2009
Delayed Gratification April 4, 2008
Buyer Beware Jan. 25, 2008
A Thoroughly Modern Retirement System June 2, 2006
CSRS Offset
Complicating Factors Oct. 7, 2011
Understanding CSRS Offset Sept. 3, 2010
Best of Both Worlds April 14, 2006
Disability Retirement
Disability Decisions Nov. 19, 2010
Disability Decisions March 20, 2009
Facing Disability Feb. 22, 2008
Voluntary Contributions
A Golden Opportunity Oct. 15, 2010
Voluntary Contributions Revisited May 22, 2009
Voluntary Benefits May 5, 2006
Post-Retirement
Who’s Getting What? Oct. 5, 2012
Pay Raises and COLAs Aug. 3, 2012
Phased Retirement Q & A Aug. 10, 2012
Retired – and Working July 20, 2012
Processing Problems Feb. 10, 2012
Refreshing COLA Oct. 14, 2011
Coming Back Sept. 30, 2011
Smooth Sailing Aug. 12, 2011
Words of Wisdom May 15, 2008
Delayed Gratification April 4, 2008
Back to Work, Again March 30, 2007
Back to Work March 23, 2007
Health Insurance
Why Don’t You Have a Flexible Spending Account? Nov. 16, 2012
Five Open Season Tips Nov. 30, 2012
Taking the Plunge Dec. 2, 2011
Ten Tips for Open Season Nov. 18, 2011
So Many Choices Nov. 4, 2011
Why? Dec. 10, 2010
(Almost) Free Health Insurance Oct. 8, 2010
Health Reform and Your Children Sept. 17, 2010
Open Forum Nov. 20, 2009
High Option Nov. 13, 2009
Dental Check-Up Nov. 7, 2008
The Five-Year Test March 20, 2008
Ensuring a Healthy Retirement June 16, 2006
Medicare
FEHB and Medicare Oct. 25, 2012
Medicare Choices Dec. 9, 2011
Medicare Wrap-Up Dec. 3, 2010
Medicare Questions Nov. 12, 2010
Don't Forget Medicare Nov. 5, 2010
Part B, Part Three Dec. 11, 2008
Medicare, Part B Dec. 4, 2008
Medicare Mysteries Nov. 21, 2008
Part B, or Not Part B? Sept. 28, 2007
More on Medicare April 28, 2006
Medicare ABCs April 21, 2006
Life Insurance
Need Money? Rethink Life Insurance June 22, 2012
Life Insurance Options Feb. 3, 2012
Life Insurance Basics Jan. 27, 2012
Life Insurance Lessons Oct. 1, 2010
Checks and Balances Aug. 6, 2010
Your Money and Your Life July 16, 2010
Life Insurance Options, Part Two Sept. 22, 2006
Life Insurance Options, Part One Sept. 15, 2006
Long-Term Care
Long-Term Thinking June 15, 2012
Long-Term Open Season Oct. 28, 2011
Decision Time June 10, 2011
Fast Facts on Long Term Care April 15, 2011
The Poverty Line March 12, 2010
Beyond Benefits March 5, 2010
Long-Term Crunch Feb. 5, 2010
Buying Long-Term Care Insurance Oct. 16, 2009
Long-Term Care Considerations Oct. 9, 2009
Long-Term Change May 15, 2009
Long-Term Planning July 25, 2008
The Long Haul: Part Three Aug. 11, 2006
The Long Haul: Part Two Aug. 4, 2006
The Long Haul: Part One July 28, 2006
Social Security
Timing Is Everything Dec. 7, 2012
Getting the Most from Social Security Oct. 19, 2012
Are You Counting on Social Security? March 30, 2012
Social Security and Spouses Feb. 17, 2012
Social Security Quiz Jan. 20, 2012
Social Security Trade-Offs Aug. 5, 2011
The Magic Number Aug. 27, 2010
Social Security 301 Oct. 2, 2009
Social Security 201 Sept. 25, 2009
Social Security 101 Sept. 18, 2009
Social Security's Top 10 Aug. 21, 2009
Understanding Social Security April 10, 2009
The Benefits of Social Security June 6, 2008
Social Issues May 2, 2008
Getting Social March 7, 2008
Gone With the Windfall Sept. 1, 2006
Offsetting Penalty June 9, 2006
Thrift Savings Plan
Talking TSP Aug. 24, 2012
Need Money? Look to the TSP June 29, 2012
The Roth Option April 20, 2012
Roth and Taxes March 2, 2012
Cashing Out From the TSP Feb. 24, 2012
Another Look at Annuities June 24, 2011
Grow Your Savings April 22, 2011
Setting the TSP Record Straight July 9, 2010
How to Become a TSP Millionaire July 2, 2010
TSP Payday June 25, 2010
Upgrading the TSP June 18, 2010
Avoiding Annuities February 26, 2010
Income for Life Feb. 19, 2010
Deep Breath Oct. 17, 2008
Take Charge of Your TSP Oct. 3, 2008
TSP and Taxes May 23, 2008
The TSP's Future -- and Yours July 13, 2007
Honey Pot April 20, 2007
TSP Withdrawal Quiz April 13, 2007
Life Expectancy vs. Life Annuity April 6, 2007
Withdrawal Options March 24, 2006
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
COLA Crunch Oct. 22, 2010
The COLA Factor Aug. 29, 2008
COLA Wars Sept. 8, 2006
Pension Protection Act and Taxes
Nine Tax Planning Tips for Retirement Sept. 21, 2012
Tax Changes: Part Two Aug. 25, 2006
Tax Changes: Part One Aug. 18, 2006
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